ROVERS delivered a five-star display on Saturday with a 5-0 thrashing of Northampton Town at the Memorial Stadium.

It was one of the most emphatic performances under Darrell Clarke’s tenure at the club, as the team produced high-quality attacking football that was rich in entertainment value.

The star of the show was Ellis Harrison, with four goals, but all the players excelled as we looked comfortable at the back, marshalled expertly by the returning McChrystal in place of the injured Hartley, industrious in midfield and lively up front.

We looked sharp and eager from the first minute, with plenty of attacking threat, pace and incisive passing. We only had to wait until the seventh minute for Bodin to continue his resurgence in form as he beat a couple of defenders and unleashed another unstoppable shot.

From then on it was all about Harrison as he scored a hat-trick inside an incredible seven minutes, between the 17th and 24th.

The first was a deft header, followed by a close range shot and then a classy back heel. Fans were left pinching ourselves while the Cobblers were simply blown away.

Although this Northampton side was a shadow of the teams we’ve battled with over the years, they were taken apart by the quality and speed of our passing and movement.

It was game over at half-time and Harrison added to the rout with his fourth in the 54th minute.

Clarke asked questions of his players following the poor display at Shrewsbury in December and they have responded magnificently, showing they are capable of matching the challenges posed in League One.

Any doubts anyone had during our recent blip have been dispelled, along with the clamour for new signings, although a couple of new players to add more depth and options to the squad would be an advantage. If we can start to replicate our home form when we are playing away, our rise up the table will continue.

The stunning victory moved the Gas up to eighth, just a point off the play-offs, ahead of the trip to Fleetwood on Saturday.